Can't afford a wedding :(

The best way to cut costs is the guest list, start with no children then set a budget and invite however many people will fit in that budget. Then I think the venue look into backyards, or parks or churchs some dont cost much if you a member. You can do it you just have to research and dont rush it if your engaged for two years than so be it youll be proud of what you waited for.

I'm very sorry to hear that. Is it possible to use a portion of your tax returns toward your wedding? Possibly work some overtime as well?

I totally agree with these ladies! We had a city wedding (Boston) for only $15,000... so $8,000 in the suburbs is totally do-able!!!

I think a Friday evening or a Sunday afternoon wedding are your best bets. You'll get great deals for not doing it on a Saturday night. If you do it late on a Friday night you can have a dessert only reception, and if its Sunday afternoon you can have a light appetizer reception. Also, I recommend shopping for dresses to find what you like, then buying a dress worn once by another bride online (try ebay or oncewed.com). No one will know!! (Unless your dad tells everyone in his speech... yes, that happened, I was mortified).

Also, I know lots of vendors will work with brides to get within their budget. If you love a certain photographer, but can't afford a deluxe package, just book them for 2 hours during the ceremony and for a little while after... and don't get an album, make it yourself through one of the bazillion photobook websites online.

PM me if you want to know about any of my MA vendors (if you're near Boston). I'm happy to help!!

. First, I think you should check out a Friday night for a less expensive wedding. You are already getting married in July. Have you considered August? Some venues offer incentives and discount for summer weddings on Friday nights. I think for what is included and where you live, $82 pp is a great deal. We couldn't get that price in the Philly area. HOwever, if you go to your venue, and start downgrading to rail booze or less appies, you can get your price down.

Next, I would cut the guest list. It is truly the best way around this.

I also like Ann Marie's suggestion of a once worn gown. I was absolutely amazed at the price of dresses on recycledbride.com.

Good luck!

Good luck!

You have two years to sock away money... save what you can and dont touch it. you can save money by not going out to eat, etc... Also if you get an income tax return over the next two years put that in as well. YOU CAN DO THIS! We all can help with the pulling the details together with diy decor. Find your venue first, then in order of importance the other things like dress, caterers or do a bbq (that really cuts costs), your dj or live band (usually dj's are cheaper unless you know someone), but in the order of importance get your "wants" together. Good luck and if you need help, we are all here!

You have two years to sock away money... save what you can and dont touch it. you can save money by not going out to eat, etc... Also if you get an income tax return over the next two years put that in as well. YOU CAN DO THIS! We all can help with the pulling the details together with diy decor. Find your venue first, then in order of importance the other things like dress, caterers or do a bbq (that really cuts costs), your dj or live band (usually dj's are cheaper unless you know someone), but in the order of importance get your "wants" together. Good luck and if you need help, we are all here!

You have two years to sock away money... save what you can and dont touch it. you can save money by not going out to eat, etc... Also if you get an income tax return over the next two years put that in as well. YOU CAN DO THIS! We all can help with the pulling the details together with diy decor. Find your venue first, then in order of importance the other things like dress, caterers or do a bbq (that really cuts costs), your dj or live band (usually dj's are cheaper unless you know someone), but in the order of importance get your "wants" together. Good luck and if you need help, we are all here!

You have two years to sock away money... save what you can and dont touch it. you can save money by not going out to eat, etc... Also if you get an income tax return over the next two years put that in as well. YOU CAN DO THIS! We all can help with the pulling the details together with diy decor. Find your venue first, then in order of importance the other things like dress, caterers or do a bbq (that really cuts costs), your dj or live band (usually dj's are cheaper unless you know someone), but in the order of importance get your "wants" together. Good luck and if you need help, we are all here!

I am on an extremley limited budget about $5000- and it is feesable. It just tikes a lot of time and research. I am not in your area so I'm not much help with options for you but here are some tips that I have learned from all the WW ladies and trust me they know their stuff.

Cut your guest list, adults only, serve appetizers, cake & punch only, shop around for deals such as DB $99 sale they have some very nice dresses.

If your wanting something more elegant than find an all inclusive venue but there again you looking at a fairly high PP cost so your going to really need to re-think your guest list. Try looking into culinary schools for catering, floral schools for flowers such as an ROP program and find a student the same for photography students love to gain experience and you can still be picky and find someone with great talent.

Good Luck!

So far for my wedding on a $5000 budget I have found the following although as you'll see by the numbers I am going over.

Venue a beautiful vineyard in wine country $3000 includes tables,linens,chairs,centerpieces, a full sit down dinner, flatware, china,appetizers for cocktail hour. ($60PP) I have only 50 guests.

Dress $950 DB veil $100 DB Slip and bra $150-DB

STD $13.00 VP

Harpiest $400 ($100 Hr.) 4 hours my cousins harp teacher

Photographer $1000- includes e-session, all images on CD and an album for us and two parent albums.

That's all I have so far but it is totally dooable. My wedding is on a Friday night try doing a weekday like Fri or Sun that saves a lot! Leave out small things like favors, STD's, OOT bags etc. They aren't necessary ,unless you have a lot of oot guests then you may want to do STD for them. Hope this helps.

Cut back on your personal expenses and save your money. I've seen single income couples where the wage earner only made $14 an hour save up and make a wedding happen. You can afford it. You just need to sacrifice a little right now if you really want a wedding.

Hi- I made an excel spreadsheet with a guest list which also calculated our total budget for us. We are having around 100 guests give or take and including our lodging we will be at about $5000 ($1000 of that is lodging).

Vista Print saves massive amounts of money, you have to sign up for the site and start working on your invites, eventually you will get some 50% off emails.

Our DJ is just starting a business and is only $250, you can always call a high school or college and see if any music students are working...this could be a violin or flute to play before ceremony? Just an idea...

I have an A frame chalk board that is going to fill in as the ceremony hand out (who's who in the wedding party/reading) and the other side has the menu to save on cost. Small changes and a little creativity goes a long way.

I cut a TON of small traditional things and I am going to WOW my guests with fun, friends, and great food/drinks.

Victoria,

Don't give up hope. $8000 is a doable budget. You just have to be a little creative. You can cut down on the guest list by inviting adults only. Jenn's idea about a park is fantastic. Many of them rent out their facilities for weddings. If you're in the Boston area you might look at Roger Williams Park in RI. It's beautiful. But you don't have to go that far. Consider not using a package and hand picking your vendors. Sometimes you can get better deals that way. If you can cut the guest list enough I stongly recomend that Colonel Balckington Inn in Attleboro. I know many people who have married there and have been thrilled, and the food is incredible. You can absolutely still have a beautiful wedding!!!!!

Victoria, your budget is way higher than ours and we have a 200-person guest list! If you're able to afford $8,000, you can have a BEAUTIFUL wedding

Even though it's kinda inconvenient for guests (which may help cut down your numbers), look into having your wedding on a weekday. Oh my GOSH does that make everything considerably cheaper! Our usually-$800-venue got sliced down to only $200 for two entire days! Vendors charge more for weekends, which tend to be booked solid anyways. Business for Monday-Friday is so welcome, prices are usually 40%-70% off! And this has been true no matter where we've looked, including the west coast.

Also, sweetness and that sense of damsel-in-distress helps. So. Much. My $800 gown is only $500 now, and family members have volunteered their leftovers from previous weddings. Our STDs are just photos printed at Walgreens on a 40% off day ($15 for 200!)

Good luck and congrats!

Thanks for all the ideas, but our guest list is already cut down as much as we possibly can and I refuse to cut the kids. I will look into Friday night, My FI didn't want Friday or Sunday because of his line of work and the amount of our guests that work those days, but maybe he has changed his mind since he's seen the prices. I am the only one right now who has any extra at the end of a paycheck with rent and car payments and gas (we commute 42 miles each way, every day for work). and we really don't go out to eat or order in. I can't do overtime, I'm salaried. However, I am going to get a job for the summer and that will be an additional paycheck since I spread my teaching salary over 12 months plus ill be saving around 300 a month over the summer in gas since I won't be commuting. Also, FI is going to umpire little league at 40 a game, 4 games a week for the season as well as do side jobs since he used to be a painter, and whenever possible, take an extra shift, but they

Don't usually give overtime, they prefer to use people that have been out sick that week

I think you can make it too like everyone said cut down the guest list, do as much as you can yourself.

You should sign up for the Platinum Wedding Giveaway that is coming up this weekend....not sure if it is too late or not but the Gala is this weekend.

Good Luck!

Mary